UFC boss considers bringing event to South Africa following Dricus du Plessis victory

Du Plessis took the UFC middleweight belt off defender Sean Stickland's hands via a split-decision victory at UFC 297 in Toronto on Saturday night. In doing so, the Pretoria native became the first South African champion in the promotion's 30-year history.

It wasn't that long ago when the UFC had three African-born champions in Francis Ngannou, Kamaru Usman and Israel Adesanya, which prompted talks of hosting a UFC event on the continent.

White always threatened to make a plan, but the Three Kings' time as champions has come and gone, leaving Africa seemingly forgotten.

Now, when asked if du Plessis could be the fighter to finally carry a UFC card on the African continent, White was positive.

"He absolutely positively could be the guy, yeah," he said at the UFC 297 post-fight press conference.

"I've been talking about Africa. Maybe we start looking at South Africa, start looking at arenas and possibly doing a fight down there this year." 

Social media was awash with videos of South Africans celebrating du Plessis' watershed win on Sunday morning, an indication that MMA is no longer the underground bloodfest it was once viewed as.

Du Plessis was confident his nation could provide an atmosphere like no other at a major UFC event. 

"I think we've worked our asses off to get this event to Africa and South Africa and it's time that happens," he told the press.

"There's one thing about South Africa - if the UFC goes there - the world is going to see: You have never seen a vibe, when it comes to a sport, like South Africa."

READ MORE: South Africa's Dricus du Plessis crowned UFC middleweight champion